Bo Pelini hears from Bill Belichick about Derek Rivers

Saturday

May 6, 2017 at 6:39 PMMay 6, 2017 at 6:40 PM

Bo Pelini is used to NFL coaches contacting him during the pre-draft process. He’s certainly used to hearing from Bill Belichick, so it wasn’t a surprise when the Patriots coach called him about a few players his staff was scouting.

By Mark Daniels @MarkDaniels PJ

FOXBORO — Bo Pelini is used to NFL coaches contacting him during the pre-draft process. He’s certainly used to hearing from Bill Belichick, so it wasn’t a surprise when the Patriots coach called him about a few players his staff was scouting.

But Pelini was caught off guard when Belichick asked him about Derek Rivers. Especially since that conversation took place during the 2016 offseason, and Rivers was an underclassman who wouldn’t be available for another year. Although both coaches spoke about multiple prospects, one being Vincent Valentine, whom the Patriots took in the third round that year, the Youngstown State coach was pleasantly surprised when the topic turned to Rivers.

Pelini always thought the defensive end was a perfect fit for the Pats. The coach’s intuition rang true last weekend when the Patriots drafted Rivers in the third round.

“I had talked to Bill about him a year ago when we were talking about somebody for what would’ve been the 2016 draft," Pelini said. "So, that’s kind of how he works. He’s so detailed and always thinking ahead. I think he already started doing his homework on [Rivers]. I thought it was ironic that’s where he ended up. I think it’s a great fit for him. I think it’s a really good fit for both the kid and the team.”

Pelini knows the ins and outs of the NFL after coaching defensive backs and linebackers in the league from 1994-2002, including a stint as the Patriots linebackers coach, under Pete Carroll, from 1997-99. When he met Rivers, after becoming the head coach at Youngstown State in 2015, the biggest thing that struck him was the player’s versatility — a must for Patriots defensive players.

During Rivers’ time with Pelini, the coach used him in a variety of ways — lining him up as down lineman, standing up and even back in coverage. Under Pelini, the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Rivers was an FCS third-team All-American in 2015 and a second-team selection in 2016. Last season, he set personal bests, finishing with 14 sacks, 19½ tackles for a loss, 58 tackles and three fumble recoveries.

The Patriots met with him at the Senior Bowl in February, held a private workout with him in April and then brought him to Gillette Stadium for an official visit to test his knowledge some more.

“He’s a smart football player,” Pelini said. “The kid’s intelligent. I think he can do a lot of different things to help them. I know that [the Patriots] put a big premium on that because that’s a very multiple defense that they play. They grilled him on his visit and found him to be a very good fit for what they want him to do.”

Rivers became the fourth defensive player from Pelini’s system drafted by Belichick, joining Valentine, Alfonzo Dennard and Bo Rudd. Newly signed running back Rex Burkhead also played under Pelini. Although those players played at a higher level with Pelini at Nebraska, Belichick wasn’t scared off by Rivers’ production at a lower level.

“[Rivers] played … in a good program there with Coach Pelini, who we know very well,” Belichick said. “Bo does a great job with his players and his team. Derek’s been in a good system, has been well-coached. Even though he’s from a smaller school we’ll see what he can do for himself here, as well, when all is said and done.”

“[Pelini]’s an NFL caliber coach. He started off in the league so everything we did at Youngstown prepared me for this moment here,” Rivers added. “I learned so much from Coach Bo and just culture and doing all the little things right. I mean, I credit Bo for a lot of my successes.”

Rivers’ talent and versatility will be a welcomed addition, but the defensive end’s demeanor off of it is also noteworthy. A team captain, Rivers was the team's scholar athlete of the year. It was a big jump for a kid who couldn’t qualify for a Division I school out of high school and had to spend a year at Fork Union Military Academy.

“First and foremost, he’s a high-character young man. A tremendous leader, a great kid,” Pelini said. “He has a 'want to' that to me is off the charts. He’s going to work real hard at it. Understands that he’s not the finished product yet, he’s still got a lot to learn like every other young football player. But he’s going to apply himself the right way. I think he’s a tremendous kid and has a lot of potential to do a lot of different things.”

When Rivers was at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, he spoke about what becoming a member of the Patriots meant to him. It didn’t take long to figure out why Belichick was looking at him a year ago.

“It’s all culture. It’s a culture and it’s a mindset. I think they definitely bring that,” Rivers said. “That’s what Patriots Way means — blue collar and hard work. You get after it each and every day. We’re going to go hard. That’s how it was [at Youngstown]. That’s what Bo brought. That same type of culture. That same type of attitude.”

That’s one reason why Pelini thought Rivers, who grew up in Kinston, N.C., was a perfect fit for the Patriots. When he first met Rivers, he remembers talking to his coaching staff about the defensive end’s next possible landing spot. Pelini said it would have to be a place that would help develop his skills and bring out his potential.

“I said, ‘God, I’d love to see him go to the Patriots,'" Pelini said. “I thought it was a good fit for their system — how they play and what they do, how they move their guys around. I think this is going to be a great opportunity for the kid. Now it’s up to him."

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